Before Hector Bellerin signed a contract extension with Arsenal in November, the right-back was being linked with a move to not just Barcelona, his former club, but rivals Manchester City as well.

According to the Guardian‘s David Hytner, the Spaniard actually turned down a huge contract with Manchester City in favour of staying at Arsenal and picking up a meager £115,000-a-week.

This was, apparently, for two reasons.

Firstly, Bellerin has huge admiration for Arsene Wenger. The manager was a massive part of him not just coming to the club from Barca’s youth team, but his development into one of the best right-backs in the league. Wenger gave him a chance and put his faith in him, which is why Bellerin feels he should repay him by staying.

Secondly, Hytner claims that Bellerin took a long, hard look at the ex-Gunners who left London and headed north. Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Samir Nasri. He thought about whether everything’s really been so great for them, except higher wages. He also apparently thought about Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song who went to Barca, and where their careers have gone since.

He obviously came to the conclusion that he could be a better footballer by staying at Arsenal and I think he made the right decision.